2013 SHOT Show

MPAR 556: New Piston Rifle from MasterPiece Arms

Update: I just watched this video (click here) of the MPAR-556 Gen II being run in a competition shoot by the guys at Full30. I was not impressed by its performance.

MasterPiece Arms is releasing more information on the new MPAR 556, the company’s new piston driven AR rifle.

The new rifle sounds like it will offer a variety of features while maintaining a sub-$1000 price tag. Â Considering this AR-style gun uses a short stroke piston, that price is extremely competitive.

As the nameÂ suggests, the MPAR 556 Â is chambered for the 5.56 NATO cartridge. Â Standard AR magazines will work with this rifle.

The handguard is a two-piece, floating system made from machined aluminum. Â The handguard allows the user to place Picatinny accessory rails in the most advantageous places. Â This allows for weight reduction, since the user can simply remove (or not install) rails in areas they are not needed.

The buttstock is made from machined aluminum and adjusts for length of pull. Â Additionally, the buttstock folds to the left for compact carry and storage.

MasterPiece Arms has not stated the barrel length, but I would expect a 16″ barrel. Â The end will most likely be threaded, and will ship with a muzzle brake attached. Â Since MasterPiece Arms now makes sound suppressors, it would make sense that all of the company’s new guns would ship with threaded barrels.

MPAR 556 parts will be either anodized or black phosphate coated (depending on the part material.)

Weatherby Vanguard Back Country Rifles

by: Richard Johnson 3 Comments

Weatherby announced they will be producing the new Vanguard 2 Back Country rifles in 2013. Â The Back Country rifles feature many of the same features found in other Weatherby rifles, but the guns are designed with an eye toward reliability in rugged, off-the-beaten-path areas.

First of all, the rifles are lightweight, coming in at just 6.75 pounds. Â This is critical for anyone who has to carry their gun over long distances, especially in rugged regions with significant elevation changes.

The Back Country’s stock is synthetic with spiderweb accents. Â The stock is pillar bedded and in the Monte Carlo form. Â The butt end of the stock is topped by a Pachmayr Decelerator pad to assist withÂ absorbingÂ recoil.

Larger Diamondback Pistol Coming

by: Richard Johnson 6 Comments

Working a trade show like the NASGW Expo, one hears all sorts of interesting rumors. Â One of the ones floating around is that Diamondback is going to introduce a new, larger pistol in 2013.

The new Diamondback pistol will be a double-stack, polymer pistol chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Â I’ve been told the gun will have a different action than the current DB380 and DB9 handguns. Â It is said the new gun will be striker fired.

Sneak Peak: New Firefly Sights at 2013 SHOT Show

by: Richard Johnson Leave a Comment

ATS SYSTEM — One color combination with the standard ATS system.

While the 2013 SHOT Show is still about six months away, Richard Nasef, the president of WrenTech Industries, is already talking about some of the possible new sights we will see. Â WrenTech makes the very visible, pyramid-shaped Advantage Tactical Sight (ATS).

There are a number of new products Nasef discussed introducing at SHOT, and all of them may eventually hit the market, though in what order remains to be seen. Â The mostÂ interestingÂ to me is theÂ Advantage Tactical Firefly Sight. Â According to Nasef, the Firefly is a “light-activated glow series of front sights.”

Due to the configuration of the ATS system, a standard tritium vial for the front sight isn’t a good option. Â A light reactive front sight paint (for lack of a better term) is much more flexible and will better fit with the ATS system.

It would seem that the glow material that WrenTech is using is vastly superior to any of the “glow in the dark” paints I have experimented with. Â With the prototypes, Nasef states a 10 second charge from a 90 lumen tactical light will give more than two hours of practical glow time. Â A 30-second charge moves the glow time past three hours.